A Man Called Ove

I recently discovered this author and started following him on Instagram. He’s a Swedish blogger and writer with a snarky, sarcastic voice. A Man Called Ove is Fredrik Backman’s debut novel published in 2015. Loved this book! There’s also a Swedish movie with English subtitles on Amazon Prime that made me cry because life isn’t fair and it’s so messy. Also, I am a female curmudgeon. Edit to add that an American version of the film starring Tom Hanks and renamed A Man Called Otto was released in 2023 and is not as strong as the original.

This review sums it up.

"An inspiring affirmation of love for life and acceptance of people for their essence and individual quirks. A Man Called Ove is a perfect selection for book clubs. It's well written and replete with universal concerns. It lacks violence and profanity, is life-affirming and relationship-driven. The book is bittersweet, tender, often wickedly humorous and almost certain to elicit tears. I contentedly wept my way through a box of tissues when I first read the novel and again when I savored it for a second time.” (BookBrowse.com) 

In a similar, irreverent manner this story reminds me of the Netflix series After Life starring Ricky Gervais. The no-holds-barred humor belies a deeper theme about the importance of human connection.